Letter to Government

Dear Mr McGuinty, 

CC: Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach; British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell; Manitoba Premier Gary Doer; New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham; Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams; Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland; Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald; Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik; PEI Premier Robert Ghiz; Quebec Premier Jean Charest; Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall; Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie

My family and so many others around Canada have been through a terrible tragedy.  We have tragically lost a loved one in a car accident because of a careless driver.  I have spoken to families across the country and the pain and devastation we have suffered is overwhelming.  What has made it worse for us is the careless driver responsible for killing our loved one has basically received a slap on the wrist.  The laws need to be changed. This is the reason I formed Families Fighting Careless Driving (www.familiesfightingcarelessdriving.com)  

When a person is charged with careless driving where someone has been killed, the most they can receive is up to 6 months in jail, although they hardly ever do. Usually the courts only hand out a small fine and a minimal license suspension, even if the person has a terrible driving history. However, we the victims receive a life sentence of pain, devastation, and traumatic memories of how our loved one was taken from us. We never had a chance to say goodbye and live with that the rest of our lives.   If the careless driver was driving responsibly and following the rules of the road, they would not have caused the accident.  To us families someone who chooses to drive carelessly and kills someone is no different from someone who chooses to drink and drive and kills someone.  However, the penalties for impaired driving when someone has been killed are much heavier.  In fact, there is no charge that even exists for careless driving causing death.

Careless driving is not an accident, people know when they are speeding, they know when they are running red lights, and they know if they are weaving back and forth between lanes.  When these careless actions result in them killing another human being, there is no reason why these people should not be put in prison.  These people have robbed another person of life and destroyed a family forever. When a vehicle is driven in such a careless manner, it becomes a murder weapon.   What motivation do people have to change their terrible driving habits, if killing another human being results in a slap on the wrist.  This makes the roads unsafe and they are a risk to all of Canadians.  

In 2007, 7358 people were convicted of careless driving, many of them resulted in the other person being killed.  We need to get the point across that driving is a privilege, and it is 100% mandatory that cars are driven with extreme care and caution.  If not people will continue to be killed and more families will suffer.  We have put together 8 law change requests ranging from the long overdue charge of careless driving causing death to more preventative laws to make our roads safer.  Prior to reading the law changes below, I have attached a poem written in honour of our loved ones.  We are now their voice as they can no longer speak

I did not want to die this way I really wanted to stay I miss my family so very much I wish I could feel their touch The pain is so very strong Until I see them again, it will be so long I wish I was there for birthdays and important dates But for me tragically it is too late I lost my life and my dreams My family and I were a loving team I wanted to see my family and friends for so many more years But now they have received a lifetime of tears My family is now forced to move on But I know it’s hard for them to be strong I had so many more years to live But now you all have something to give Give your effort to make a change So I did not die in vain

Please see the below law changes.  It is time everyone realizes that driving must be taken seriously and not doing so will have consequences. 

Thank you
Darryl Bowles
Hamilton, ON
Families Fighting Careless Driving